SCHULTENS
439
SCHULTHESS
Schultens, Albert, an eminent Dutch Oriental- ist, the father of moilern Hebrew grammar, was born at Groningen, 1G8G, and early destined to a theological career, lie studied the original languages of the Bible — Chaldee, Syriac, and Rabbinic — and after a time Arabic. The earliest fruit of these studies was a public disputa- tion with Gussetius, at the age of eighteen, in which he maintained that the study of Arabic is indispensa- bly necessary to a knowledge of Hebrew. After com- pleting his studies, he visited Leyden and Utrecht, and became acquainted with Keland, through -whom he published his first book, Animudv, Philulog. in Juhum (Utrecht, 1708, 8vo). Having returned to his home, he became candidate in theolog)', and in the following year (July 4, 1709) received the degree of doctor in that science. He then returned to Leyden to make use of its library. In 1711 he assumed the pastorate of the Church at Wassenaer, but exchanged that post after two years for the chair of Oriental languages in the Academy of Franeker. In 1729 he was placed in charge of the Leyden Theological Seminary and made custodian of the Warner MSS, He served three years, doing the work of a professor without enjoying the title or re- ceiving any renumeration, after which period a chair of Arabic was specially created for him, with wliich the additional professorship of Hebrew antiquities was con- nected in 17-10. He held these positions without in- terruption to the time of his death, Jan. 26, 1750.
The services which Schultens rendered to philological science are of great value. He was the first to overturn the notion that Hebrew is the original language given to man by God, by showing that that tongue is simply a branch of the Shemitic family, and finds an essential and indispensable aid in the comparison of the Arabic. Besides defending this position in his early disputation with Gussetius, he enforced its claims in the work Origi- nes Hthrma. This opened a new path to Hebrew gram- mar and Biblical exegesis, and also contributed materi- ally to the advancement of the study of Oriental lan- guages and the attainment of its subsequent indepen- dent position. Numer9us pupils helped to spread the knowledge of his views and methods, and finnided the Dutcli school of grammar and exegesis. The faults of Schultens are too great readiness in the tracing of anal- ogies and the forming of combinations, and a lack of thorough criticism in the application of the Arabic.
Of the writings of Schultens, aside from the purely Arabic — such as editions of the Rudimenta (1733) and the Grammaticu (174:8) of Erpenius: — Vita Saladini (Lugd. Bat. 1733, fol.) : — Monrim. Vetustinra A rub. (Leyd. 1740, 4to) : — Historia Joctinidarum (Harderov. 178G, 4to) — we mention those which have reference to Hebrew gram- mar and Biblical literature : Origines liebrcca-, etc. (Fran- eker, 1734-38, 2 vols. 4to), and a preliminary work, JJe Defectihus IIodieriKB Linrjum Ilehr. (ibid. 1731, 4to; new ed. of both works, Leyd. 1761, 2 vols. 4to): — Insiituti- ones ad Finidam. LingucB Hebr., etc. (Leyd. 1737, 1756, 4to ) : — Vetus et Regia Via Jleh-aizandi, etc. ( Lugd. 1738), a rejoinder to his opponents, which he carries further in Excursus Primus ad Caput Primurn Vim Ve- teris et Regice Ilebraizandi, etc., and Excursus Secundus and Tertius (Leyd. 1739, 4to) : — Institutiones A i-amcece (Lugd. Bat. 1745-49), a work containing a Chaldee and Syriac grammar, without preface or other guide to in- quiry, and probably interrupted by the author's death, as it is broken oft" in the middle. Of his exegetical works the chief are. Liber Jobi, Nova Versione ad Hebr. Fontem et Comment., etc. (Lugd. Bat. 1737, 2 vols. 4to) : — Proverbia Salomonis, etc. (ibid. 1748, 4to), an abridgment of which was published by G. J. L. Vogel (Halle, 1769, 8vo). Ten separately printed disserta- tions and addresses were published by his son in Opei-a Minora, etc. (Ludg. 1760, 4to), and also a number of dissertations read before him by his pupils, in Sglloge Diss. Phiiolog.-exegef. (Leidce et Leovard. pars i, 1772; pars ii, 1775, 4to). Schultens left also several commen- taries and a Hebrew lexicon in MS. See Yriemoet,
Elogium Schultensii, in Athence Frisiaccc, p. 762-771. — Herzog, Real-Encyklup. s. v.
Schultens, Heinrich Albert, an Orientalist, the son of Johann Jacob, and grandson of Albert Schultens (q. v.), was born at Herborn, Central Germany, Feb. 15, 1749. He began the study of Greek and Latin, under the direction of the most celebrated instructors of Leyden, at the age ofseven years, and followed it with that of Orien- tal languages and antiquities. He also became acquaint- ed with the English, French, and German among modern tongues. In 1772 he visited England to make use of the Bodleian Library; and on his return, though not yet twenty-four years of age, was made professor of Oriental languages in the Academy of Amsterdam, and in 1782 he was inducted into the chair previously occupied by his father and grandfather. His literary labors were expended chiefly on Arabic authors, and the continued effort required to prepare the Prove7-bs of Meidani un- dermined his health. He died of a slow fever, Aug. 12, 1793. Everard Scheid, his friend and successor, deliv- ered his eulogium. For his life, comp. Sei-ies Contimi- ata IListor. Batav. per Wagenaer, pars i, p. 364-380; also the unimportant sketch by Rink, II. A . Schultens, etc. (Riga, 1794, 8vo). — Herzog, Real-Encyklop), s. v.